Invalid-bed



Y 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

A.J. GOODWIN.

INVALID BED.

Nol 420,197. Patented Jan. 28, 1890.

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WI E55 E5. A *d* (No Model.)

u 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A; GOODWIN INVALID BED.

Patented Jan. 28, 18907.

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g UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ASAHEL J. GOODVIN, OF BROOKLNE, MASSACHUSETTS. r

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 420,197, dated January28, 1890. Application led February l27, 1888 Serial No. 265,401. (Nomedel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it kn own that I, ASAHEL J. GooDwIN, of Brookline, 'county ofNorfolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Thisinvention relates to beds especially adapted for hospital and invalidpurposes, it having for one of its objects toprovide the said bed withan adjustable back-supporting frame, by means of which a firm support-isobtained for the back of the patient when in a sitting or recliningposture.

Another feature of my invention consists in providing the foot-boardwith a removable section adapted to be removed to permit a foot-bar tobe substituted therefor, for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Other features of my invention will be pointed out in the claims at theend of this specification.

Figure l is a top View of an invalid-bed embodying my invention; Fig. 2,a longitudinal section of Fig. 1 on line x, with part of the foot-boardremoved and with the foot-bar substituted therefor, the said figureshowing next the foot end of the bed the portion of the foot-board whichhas been removed; and Figs. 3 and 4 are details to be referred to.

The bedstead herein shown as composed of the head-board ct, connected bysuitable sidesv d2 to a foot-board having a fixed section a. and aremovable section f2, may be of any usual or well-known construction.The sides a2 have screwed or otherwise secured to them, as herein shown,end boards or slats d4, to which are screwed, as shown, metal strips0.5, having eyes to be'engaged by springs a6, forming part of asuspension-mattress, the body portion of which is herein shown ascomposed of links a7, united by squares or platesas, preferably ofmetal. c

On opposite sides and near the longitudinal center of the Wire mattresstwo of the links aT are replaced by rods or bars auhaving ears cd2, towhich the links co7 are attached to complete the mattress. Each rod orbar al, beyond the side of the mattress, is embraced, as shown, by theslotted end of a bar b, having at its opposite end a hollow casting b',provided with a lug or ear b2, extended laterally from 1t, (see Fig. 3,)and the said bars on opposite sides of the mattress are joined together'by a cross-bar b3, riveted or otherwise secured to the said lugs.

The side bars h and cross-bar b3, preferably made of bent sheet-steel,constitute a frame, to which is secured a covering h, of canvas or othermaterial-*such as wire-netting-the said canvas being secured, as shown,tothe cross-bar. h3, and having its opposite end Vfastened by links b5to the bars d10 and plates a8, extended across the mattress in line withthe said bars. p

The frame and covering or back of canvas or other material constitute asupport for the back and head of the patient, and the said support maybe raised from a horizontal to an inclined position, or vice versa, asshown,by means of a windlass composed of a shaft d, having attached toitone end of a chain or chains d2; or it may be a rope, only one of whichis shown in Fig. 2, the other end of the said chain or chains beingsecured to a crossbar cl3, having secured to or forming part of it bars,as d4, provided with holes at their ends to engage studs d5 on the sidebars h of the supporting-frame. The bars cl" are locked to the side barsb, preferably, by springcatches, herein shown as pieces 4e of sheetmetal, pivoted, as at e', and having their ends shaped to' engage thestud d5, to thus firmly secure the bars d4 to the side bars b of thesupporting-frame.

It is a great desideratum to maintain the yielding back of thesupporting-frame ltaut or under tension at all times and in allpositions ofthe said frame, so as to presenta substantially rigidsupport for the back of the patient. This feature of my invention I haveaccomplished, as shown, by providing an adjusting-screw f for eachcasting b', the said screw being extended-into a threaded socket in thelsaid casting and normally abutting against the end of the side bar b. Itwill `th'usbe seen that the tension of the supporting-back may beVvaried to suit the requirements of the case by turning the screws in oraway from the mattress.

The bars com will preferably be equal in Y length to two links ci, toimpart additional stiffness to the wire mattress at its sides, so thatwhen the back-supporting frame is inclined to substantially an angle offorty-five degrees the downward strain of the side bars IOO the castingsto move the cross-bar b3 toward Y b on the wire-netting of the mattresswill be sustained, thus preventing sagging of the said mattress at thesides.

The upper portion or section f2 of the footboard is made removable, ithaving grooves, as f3, in its ends to engage notched ribs or bars f4,secured to the posts f5 of the said foot-board. Normally the removablesection f2 will be placed on and form a part of the foot-board; but incase of sickness, as when a patient has sustained a fracture of the legand itjs desired to maintain the injured member perfectly still, (whichin practice is usually accomplished by means of Va weight secured to thesaid injured me1nber,) the said section will be removed and a bar f1Usubstituted therefor.

The bar f1o is provided at each end, as shown, with a socket, in whichis located a spring f1?, adapted to bear against the end of a rod orpawl fw, having a stud f14 extended through a slot in the said bar, andby which the said bar may be moved to compress the spring, the said pawlengaging a notch in the bar f4 to secure the foot-bar inplace at anydesired height.

The bed herein shown is provided with a stretcher-frame composed of sidebars g g', having secured to them brackets g2, engaged by the ends ofrack-bars g3, movable in guides g4, secured to the sides of thebedstead, the said rack-bars being made to travel, as shown, by a piniong5 on a shaft g, rotated in practice by a handle from outside the bed.

The side bars g of the stretcher-framey have secured to them bracketsQ7, which form with the top rail g8 of the side bars grooves orguideways to receive the ends of a board gw, constituting a table forthe use of the patient. The side bars g of the stretcher-frame arejoined near the head-board d by a crossbar Q12, thesaid stretcher-framebeing not herein claimed broadly, as it forms part of the subject-matterof another application, Serial No. 265,365, filed by me February 25,1888.

I claim,-v

Vl. The combination, with the bedstead and a suspension-m attresssupported thereby and provided on opposite sides with rods or barsprojecting therefrom, of a back-supporting frame pivoted upon said rodsor bars, with means, substantially as described, to raise and lower thesaid frame on its pivotal points, as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination, with the bedstead andv a suspension-mattresssupported thereby, of an adjustable back-supporting frame pivotallysecured to the sides of said mattress near its longitudinal center, barsd4, detachably secured to 'said frame between its upper end and pivotalVpoint, and means, substantially as described, independent ofthemattress, to raise and lower the said bars, to thereby alter theinclination of the said adjustable frame with relation to the mattress,substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the bedstead and mattress supported thereby andprovided with projecting rods or bars am, of an adjustableback-supporting frame secured to the said mattress, and comprising sidebars b, slotted at their lower ends to embrace the outer ends of saidrods or bars, and the crossbar b3, having secured thereto at its ends anadjustable hollow casting b', adapted to receive the upper ends of theside bars b, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the bedstead and a Vsuspension-mattresssupported thereby, of an adjustable vback -supportingirame pivotallysecured to the sides of said mattress, and comprising side bars b,having studs d5 thereon, cross-bar b3, and an adjustable casting b',secured to either 'end of said cross-bar and adapted to receive the endsof `the side bars d2, the bars d, having holes at their ends to engag'ethe studs d5, shaft d, and flexible connections intermediate said barsand shaft, and with a locking device attached to said bars d4 to securethem to the side bars b, substantially as described.

' 5. In an invalid-bed, a foot-board having its posts provided withnotched or rack bars f4, combined with a foot-bar f1", having' a pawl toengage the said rack-bar, substantially as described.

6. In an invalid-bed, a foot-board having its posts provided withnotched or rack bars f4, and a removable section f2, having grooves toengage said rack-bar, combined with a foot-4 bar f 10, substantially asdescribed.

7. In an invalid-bed, the sides a2, having brackets g4 secured thereto,rack-bars g3, 'and a stretcher-frame provided with the top rails andsupported by the rack-bars, and brackets Q7, secured to the saidstretcher frame, combined with a table g1, having its ends insertedbetween the said brackets and top rail, substantially as described.

8. In a bedstead, a suspension-mattress, combined with an adjustableback-supporting frame, comprising side bars b, pivoted to the mattress,cross-bar b3, covering b4, secured to the said cross-bar and to thesuspensionmattress, and an adjusting device to move the cross-bar towardor away from the pivot-al point of the saidframe to vary the tension 'ofthe covering b4, the device `consisting of the hollow castings b',rigidly attached to the ends of the cross-bar, said castings be; ingprovided with a threaded socket having an adj Listing-screw f extendedtherein and normally abnttin g against the end of the side bar b,extended into the casting, substantially as described. l

In testimony whereof I have .-signed my name to this specilication inthe presence of twoV subscribing witnesses.

' ASAHEL J. GOODIVIN.

Witnesses:

J As. H. CHURCHILL, J. C. SEARS.

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